What did CES 2024 say about sustainability?

CES 2024 was huge for sustainability!

CES 2024 has just ended in Las Vegas. Now to be clear at the start, I didn't go. In fact, I have never been. Is that a handicap? I don't think so and here is why. CES is huge, really huge. Its impossible to get around every exhibit, see every product launch, test out and evaluate everything etc. So, in many ways, it's easier to get an overall view of the show and what was announced after the show is over.

Sustainability at CES 2024

Mow, rather than attempt the impossible and cover every aspect of CES, I will try and look at some of the key announcements from a sustainability perspective. Here is a summary:

• Tech companies at CES 2024 are prioritizing sustainability strategies.
• There is a stronger focus on utilizing recycled materials in devices and displays.
• Google backs the Right to Repair movement, advocating for device longevity.
• Sustainability is emerging as a significant factor for consumers in tech purchases.
• The Consumer Technology Association introduces the Consumer Technology Circularity Initiative.
• Companies such as Sony, Razer, and Samsung commit to incorporating more recycled materials.
• Dell aims for 50% recycled or renewable materials in products by 2030.
• AMD is working towards making server CPUs and AI accelerators 30 times more energy-efficient by 2025.
• Dell is exploring the use of AI and machine learning for predictive analytics in product components.
• Simplification of repairs is underway, with Dell introducing QR codes for a personalized support experience.
• Various industries, including tech, are adopting circular economy strategies for prolonged device lives.
• Companies are encouraged to design products with end-of-life management in mind to reduce emissions.

So, we can see that more and more companies are putting sustainability at the heart of their research, design and product development. It's especially encouraging that they are planning ahead for the end-of-life part of the whole cycle and as well as making products from more recycled parts are looking at e-waste as a whole.

Trends in sustainability in the Tech sector

Let's look at one or two trends in particular:

1. Energy efficiency: 

It definitely makes much more sense to use less energy to carry out the same task whenever possible. Making products much more energy efficient reduces demand for electricity which reduces carbon emissions which in turn will help combat climate change. 

The fact that AMD is aiming to make its server CPUs and AI accelerator chips 30x more energy efficient is a huge step forward. Especially when you consider that data centers use about 2% of the world's electricity (Data centers are using two percent of the world's energy | TechSpot) and that is only going to grow.

Of course, these CPUs will not only be used in data centres but also in vehicles, factories and even our homes. However, data centres are huge and use thousands if not millions of CPUs so this gives us a good indication of the impact of CPUs on energy consumption levels. Now if all those data centres used CPUs that we 30x more energy efficient, that could save huge amounts of power. In 2018, it was estimated that across the globe data centers are consuming in excess of 416 terawatt hours of electricity annually. if that was reduced to 1/30th then that would be a saving of over 402 terawatt hours. That is the power consumed by almost 38 million homes in the USA in one year!

As the demand for data centres grows (with the growth of cloud computing and the use of AI) the potential savings in energy also grow in significance. The more tech companies like AMD can make their CPUs energy efficient, the more they can help reduce the actual power consumption of data centres and the like.

Also, by using green energy (from solar, wind, tidal etc) to power these devices, the more of a positive impact they can make. Already, many data centres are powered by green energy. 

Sure, here are some examples of large data centres that are using green energy:

1. Kao Data: Kao Data is currently powered by 100% renewable energy across its entire data centre operations. The green energy pioneer was the first data centre operator in Europe to transition its back-up generators to 100% renewable HVO biofuel.

2. VIRTUS: VIRTUS is another data centre provider that has successfully achieved 100% renewable electricity usage across its entire site network. The London-based company sources the energy for all ten of its data centres from zero-carbon electricity supplier Bryt Energy.

3. Equinix: Equinix is committed to achieving best-in-class data centre efficiency, with green energy playing a pivotal role in this reputation. Across the design and build of its sites, Equinix has consistently high energy-efficiency standards and 100% clean, renewable energy.

4. Switch: Switch, which runs three of the world’s top 10 data centres, announced plans for a solar-powered hub in central Nevada that will be the largest anywhere outside China.

These data centres are leading the way in sustainable energy usage, which is becoming increasingly important in the industry. Please note that the specifics of their green energy usage may vary and could include a mix of solar, wind, hydroelectric, and other renewable energy sources. Read more.

2. End-of-life management: 

Our modern lifestyles can be incredibly wasteful and although we all bear some responsibility for reducing waste (do we really need so many gadgets in our lives?), manufacturers hold the key to reducing e-waste. By incorporating end-of-life management in the their product design, development and manufacturing, helping to reduce future emissions. 

For an understanding of what end of life management means, here is a brief explanation:

• When a product finally gives up the ghost, what happens next? That's where end-of-life management comes in. It's all about handling products responsibly once they're past their prime. This involves:
• Giving them a second chance: Reusing products or fixing them up extends their life and saves resources.
• Turning old into new: Recycling materials from worn-out products means less digging for virgin materials and a lighter footprint on the planet.
• Building with leftovers: Sometimes, parts from old products can be used to make new ones, like giving those used batteries a new lease on life.

Saying goodbye thoughtfully: If nothing else works, disposing of products must be done with care to avoid harming the environment.

This way of thinking, called the circular economy, aims to close the loop on resources and avoid unnecessary waste. It's closely linked to product stewardship, where manufacturers take ownership of their creations' environmental impact, from cradle to grave.

By putting these ideas into practice, we can breathe new life into old things and tread lighter on our planet.

Let's look at what two of the largest tech companies are doing in this respect.

Google:

At CES 2024, Google announced its new policy supporting the Right to Repair movement. This policy is part of Google’s sustainability goals and focuses on the end-of-life management of their products.

Key points of the announcement include:

• Google is making tools, parts, and repair manuals available to device owners, including Pixel phone owners. This supports the user’s right to fix their own devices.
• Google’s commitment to supply the latest Pixel 8 series with seven years of software updates. This is a significant step towards extending the lifespan of their devices, which means fewer old devices are thrown away into landfills, contributing to climate woes.

These initiatives show Google’s commitment to sustainability and responsible end-of-life management of their products. Read more.

Samsung:

Samsung didn't make any specific announcement on Right to Repair or end-of-life-management for their products at the show. However, they did reiterate their use of recycled ocean plastics in their phones and TVs. They also pledged to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050 and the use of 100% renewable energy in their device experience division by 2027. Read more.

So, CES 2024 was huge, not only in terms of the number of new products announced but also in terms of sustainability. AI was also huge at CES 2024 and I will cover this in a seperate post.